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Maternal iron deficiency and the risk of schizophrenia in offspring

Beverly J Insel1, Catherine A Schaefer, Ian W McKeague

  • 1New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, Unit 23, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Archives of General Psychiatry
|October 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Maternal iron deficiency during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) in offspring. Early iron supplementation could potentially reduce this risk, warranting further research.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Public Health
  • Maternal-Child Health

Background:

  • Iron is vital for brain development and function.
  • Early-life iron deficiency is linked to lasting neural and behavioral deficits.
  • This study examines the lifelong impact of early iron status on adult schizophrenia risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if maternal iron deficiency during pregnancy elevates offspring's risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs).
  • To assess the association between maternal hemoglobin levels and SSD susceptibility.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study included offspring born between 1959-1967.
  • Maternal hemoglobin concentration was prospectively measured and analyzed.
  • Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) development was tracked from 1981-1997.

Main Results:

  • Maternal hemoglobin concentration of 10.0 g/dL or less was linked to a nearly 4-fold increased rate of SSDs.
  • Each 1 g/dL increase in maternal hemoglobin was associated with a 27% decrease in SSD rate.
  • These findings remained statistically significant after adjusting for maternal education and ethnicity.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal iron deficiency during pregnancy may be a significant risk factor for offspring developing SSDs.
  • Addressing maternal iron deficiency presents a potential strategy for reducing SSD risk.
  • Further investigation in independent cohorts is recommended to confirm these findings.
Abstract

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